Publisher's Summary

In the mid-70s, Steve Martin exploded onto the comedy scene. By 1978 he was the biggest concert draw in the history of stand-up. In 1981 he quit forever. Born Standing Up is, in his own words, the story of "why I did stand-up and why I walked away".

At age 10 Martin started his career at Disneyland, selling guidebooks in the newly opened theme park. In the decade that followed, he worked in the Disney magic shop and the Bird Cage Theatre at Knott's Berry Farm, performing his first magic/comedy act a dozen times a week. The story of these years, during which he practiced and honed his craft, is moving and revelatory.

Martin illuminates the sacrifice, discipline, and originality that made him an icon and informs his work to this day. To be this good, to perform so frequently, was isolating and lonely. It took Martin decades to reconnect with his parents and sister, and he tells that story with great tenderness. Martin also paints a portrait of his times: the era of free love and protests against the war in Vietnam, the heady irreverence of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in the late 60s, and the transformative new voice of Saturday Night Live in the 70s.

I love Steve Martin's comedy and this is such an interesting story. Unfortunately, audible books are like a lullaby for me, so I miss bits here and there throughout. Think I had better stick to written word.Would recommend this book tho' to others who delight in his offbeat wit, if they don't have my annoying problem.

This was my first Audible Audiobook, and I was curious as to whether I would enjoy it or not. I loved it! Steve does a great job narrating the book himself and it keeps you entertained the whole time. I like books that give you an inside look to worlds you wouldn't normally get to see, and that's exactly what this book does. Highly Recommended.

32 of 33 people found this review helpful

Andrew

Coconut Creek, FL, USA

30/11/07

Overall

"Fantastic"

Get this audiobook. It’s one of the best show biz biographies I have ever seen. Definitely the best one that ever mentioned Dariel Fitzke’s Showmanship for Magicians. Actor/comedian/writer/art collector/banjo picker/magician Steve Martin details his journey from aspiring young magician to the biggest comedian of all time (he was the first comedian to sell out 45,000 seat venues).

You’ll find out that his overnight success took ten years and only then happened when he decided to go his own path. Despite the frequent bookings on the Tonight Show, fame and headliner status eluded him for a long time. He’d been demoted to performing only on guest host nights for a long period because Johnny wasn’t in to his act. When he slowly found his way, Johnny became his biggest fan.

I sat down with this book to just read a chapter and couldn’t put it down. I read the whole thing in one sitting. I’m getting the audiobook next. It’s an amazing story of how a performer struggled and grew in his art. It’s the best analysis I’ve ever read of what it takes to be an original and how hard it can be to get acceptance for that.

I could go on about this book, but you should really just be reading the book. So I’ll end this right here: Go get this audiobook!

81 of 86 people found this review helpful

Susan

Long Beach, CA, United States

26/05/08

Overall

"Loved it!"

What a charming genuine affable guy. Loved the book. My only problem with this book is that it isn't long enough. I wanted more. I'll wait for his second memoir.

18 of 19 people found this review helpful

S. Casey

Fort Worth, Tx

4/07/08

Overall

"Excellent!"

This is an excellent book and Steve Martin's narration makes you feel like you're in his living room listening to him tell his story to you personally. I loved it!

14 of 15 people found this review helpful

Pamela J

United States

20/12/07

Overall

"A stand-out book"

I've always liked Steve Martin, but it wasn't until I started to read his books that I can say I LOVE Steve Martin. And this book, more than even the fiction he's written, reminds me of what a great talent he is.

I'm not a celebrity watcher so I was hesitant about this one. I finally decided I'd try it because I thought it might be sort of funny. Yes, there's humor but this much more about an era. I was zapped right back to my adolescence and early adulthood spent watching Saturday Night Live and learning to do the "Tut" walk. It's a great book if you get the references (does everybody remember the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band?) but even if you don't it's a revelation on how comedians are created (or create themselves) from their circumstances. Seldom are we priviledged enough to really get into someone else's head, but you'll want to crawl inside this one and enjoy looking around. Loved it.

29 of 33 people found this review helpful

Edward

ny, NY, USA

1/03/09

Overall

"Well Written and Narrated"

I have actually listened to this several times. It is fairly short, but a well written account of the evolution of his act. It is hard to imagine the years that went into editing out the bad material and fine tuning the good to make Steve Martin one of the funniest comics. It seems to get funniest at the end, like his act, insightfully spanning a few decades. It is also fun to hear his familiar voice reading the story of his professional life.

14 of 16 people found this review helpful

Sher from Provo

Utah

26/06/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Stands up well"

I have always been a fan of Steve Martin. To me, a comedian/actor has to strike a balance between being able to be incredibly funny and yet have the ability to be serious when appropriate. Steve Martin found that balance. Many of his movies are on my all-time faves list, but I also enjoy his standup routines. I think he is a genuine person, and that reaches out to me. So it isn't surprising that I enjoyed reading about his life. No, this is not a literary masterpiece, but as far as memoirs, it is fairly well written, entertaining and engaging.

Martin reads his own memoir, and does a fine job of it. He is, after all, an entertainer.

11 of 13 people found this review helpful

V. Allen

Il, USA

21/12/09

Overall

"A delighful look behind the genius of Steve Martin"

This is a well written and well read. It is heartfelt and insightful as to how a man can hone his craft.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

G. YEO

Singapore

21/09/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Really & Truly Boring"

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Hard to say. The story was pretty dry.

What was most disappointing about Steve Martin’s story?

His life doesn't reflect the zaniness of his work. While I get that, his life actually sounded quite boring outside of his career and rather unremarkable.

How could the performance have been better?

He sounds very unenthusiastic and flat.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Born Standing Up?

hard to say

Any additional comments?

Watch his movies, but avoid this book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Tev

25/03/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Boring"

I felt that Steve Martin was really a book written by someone else. His projection and tone were dry and often listless as if he didn't find the story any more interesting than I did. I finally gave up~ the book was not interesting nor entertaining. Hopefully Mr. Martin was able to work through his life issues during this process so that he can continue on the big screen, which is where he belongs!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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Alistair

London, United Kingdom

13/05/11

Overall

"Interesting insight into a great comedian"

Steve Martin's narration is wonderfully clear and insightful, unlike many of his contemporaries he is able to recall the early days of Saturday Night Live and the 70's stand-up seen brilliantly. It is a useful look into the formation of his career and how he struggled early on. I would have preferred it to be a little longer as it’s much more interesting than many celebrity auto-biographies.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

john keegan

Glasgow, Strathclyde United Kingdom

9/07/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Funny Guy!"

Would you try another book written by Steve Martin or narrated by Steve Martin?

Yes, yes, yes. This is the first audiobook I have heard by Steve Martin and thoroughly enjoyed. It's fantastic hearing the author tell his thoughts and jokes.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Great book and a story that brings you up to date.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I wouldn't say I enjoyed one chapter or scene more than another, I did however love hearing how the conception of some of his catchphrases came into being.

Was Born Standing Up worth the listening time?

The book was a very open and honest account of his life, a must buy if you like Steve Martin, his work and comedy. My only downside was I felt it was too short.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

John

Hare Hatch, United Kingdom

26/01/12

Overall

"Well worth your time"

It's a bit light on the humour but all the same, it's very interesting. His relationship with his parents, particularly his father comes as a surprise. He goes into detail about his route into the business, the highs and lows, the loneliness, and it's very revealing. Very well written and Steve reads it in a very matter of fact way - one that will stay with you long after you've read it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Narny

Lincoln, United Kingdom

17/06/11

Overall

"Tears of a clown."

I heard Scottish comedian Susan Calman recommend this book but having quite a mixed opinion of Steve Martin I thought it would just be a few hours of him massaging his own ego.

However I admit to being very wrong and understood Ms. Calman's reason for recommending it. This honest and sometimes very sad memoir of Steve Martin is a very memorable and surprising listen. Yes, there is plenty of humour but it clearly shows the road to fame has been a hard journey for the star and he readily admits to his own faults. At the end of it my opinion had been altered somewhat.

I would recommend this. It may not change your opinion of Steve Martin but it is an enlightening listen from the author.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Steve Parke

2/06/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"One crazy guy"

Wonderful reading and well layered a great insight and has many touching parts. It's a great listen

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Faye T.

15/03/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Excellent presentation. Lovely story."

Narrated beautifully. Learnt a lot about Steve Martin. Very easy to listen to.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Schunowho

28/02/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"It has a beginning, middle but no end."

I'm a big Steve Martin fan but this book left too many questions unanswered. He tells a bittersweet, almost melancholy story of his rise to fame. It's honest and heartfelt and tells of his fathers coldness and his rise selling programs at Disneyland an on through magic shops and the small smokey clubs where he carved out his unique "Crazy " guy persona. He reads with little emotion but it has its funny moments. It ends just after his parents deaths and his first film success in The Jerk.It's well documented that Steve has wrestled with physiological problems and these are hinted at in this book. I would have liked to have heard the behind the scenes of his big hit films and his reminisces of his fellow performers. This would have ended the book with an upbeat feel.Do another volume Steve with a few more laughs.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Sean Clark

3/12/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Great insight into a funny man"

Steve Martin wasn't just a comedian , he analysed comedy for its nuance. He worked hard, and from a most normal upbringing, became an overnight success 20 years in the making.

Told with a familiar dry humour, it is sometimes hard to pick out the facts from a line. Which makes this book all the better for it.

That Steve Martin narrates it is only right. So don't expect an uplifting experience, more a monotone dialogue in which Steve is the only character. And rightly so, great fun.

You'll never feel this small again!

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Mr. N. Curran

5/03/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Brilliant"

The best read autobiography I've heard. Brilliantly told story of his rise to fame and the start middle ant then end of his stand up comedy career. This is well worth reading.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

JamieD87

2/12/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Great insight into the life of a great performer"

If you could sum up Born Standing Up in three words, what would they be?

Insightful. Entertaining. Comical.

What other book might you compare Born Standing Up to, and why?

None I can think of.

What does Steve Martin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

His voice reading his story made it all the more real. It's his story after all so his tone changes naturally when it needs to, giving the book an extra dimension of reality as well as entertainment.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Mostly the part when talking about his relationship with his father. So honest and open about such an intimate subject. Fair play to him.

Any additional comments?

I liked the way he gave insight into the comedy circuit. I've kinda always wondered what it was like but never had the cojones to actually go try stand up. It's was a great listen.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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